Can We Still Trust Science When it’s Calling Black Holes ”Hairy”?

Some conflict in this episode: Brandon wants to talk about a new study that suggests black holes have quantum "hair" and Stephen wants to at least take a moment to discuss why the great minds behind the science didn't think a little harder about the branding of their hypothesis.

Chortling aside, the hairy black hole story is interesting to us for a few reasons. One is that, if correct, the hypothesis would resolve a contradiction at the heart of modern science — which involves whether or not anything can really escape the gravity of a black hole.

The other reason we latched onto this shaggy tale is that it got us talking about trust in science: how much of it do we have? how has it changed in recent decades? what does politics have to do with it? and is anybody really keen to let scientists put computer chips in our heads, regardless of how great the wifi is?

All this and a Very Special Quiz on Weird Science Names. We're all winners in the game of learning!

JOURNOS is produced by Heather "Eagle Ears" Wilson

Notes

Some funny scientific names // Some more funny scientific names // A fungus named for a sponge // The news media's fascination with one pop star's butt